Thread: TR: Jackson Hole Tram Mechanical Room

I had the good fortune of spending the 2010-2011 ski season in Jackson Hole and living at the Hostel. Snow drove me elsewhere for the majority of this past season, but I will be back as often as I can in the future.

I often encountered the late, great Chris Onufer while out skiing. I'd usually see him clicking in next to the patrol sleds skier's left when coming off the tram. He showed me lots of fun lines throughout the season. Once I realized he ran the tram, I asked for a tour of the mechanical room, as I do mostly electric machinery and power electronics in my day job. He responded, "Sure, just come knock on the lower door sometime soon after we close." I've been intending to write this up since his passing. Sorry for the somewhat blurry pics... I was having trouble with a lens at the time.

The machinery in the room is impressive, to say the least. The facility itself is kept spotless.

The main stack and primary drive motors.


Drive motors are huge! Two of them in series, ~1000 hp each.


Motor controllers.


Giant concrete capstan blocks that hold the support cables.


Size reference:


There is a fiber-optic cable woven in to one of the support cables. It is currently only used to run credit cards for waffles at Corbet's Cabin. Apparently there was talk at one time about doing something that would require internet up there.


Emergency hydraulic backup motors on the main stack. These can run the tram at half speed.




My buddy Jay in front of the backup generator. If I remember correctly, the generator will carry the tram at normal speed and load.


The generator tag says it's plenty big enough.


As does the diesel rating tag.

that's kinda neat...thanks

yeah, cool! spending some time in motor rooms in my past this is pretty neat. hope i get to catch a ride up that thing one day peace